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Happy December! We’re in the last days of the year and unveiling our final PC Black Label Collection box. Let’s take a closer look at these wonderful products and what we will be using to make our holiday recipe this month!

100% pure and crafted in the Beauce-Frontenac region of Quebec, this lusciously sweet Pure Maple Syrup is harvested late in the season for a heightened and deeply rich maple flavour and naturally dark colour.

I opted to go with the PC Black Label Pure Maple Syrup this month to make Maple Mousse Verrine cups. Perfect for the holiday season and easy entertaining, they’re decadent and delicious and will have your guests asking for seconds! Simple ingredients bring this beautiful dessert together in no time and can be prepared ahead of time without the fuss!

This PC Black Label Pure Maple Syrup is rich and decadent and we’ve been enjoying it in these Maple Mousse Verrines as well as on pancakes, waffles, oatmeal (yum!) ice cream and even in my morning coffee.

I hope you’ll try out my new recipe this month and let me know what you think in the comments section below or on my social media channels using my hashtag #hautesucre.

Whether you’re a home chef or an aspiring foodie, the PC Black Label Collection makes it easy to unleash your culinary curiosity and get creative. Discover the entire collection and be inspired to #PlayWithYourFood at pc.ca/blacklabel.

PC Black Label Smoked Paprika Spice:
Popular in authentic Spanish dishes and in recipes from surrounding regions of the Mediterranean, use our aromatic and distinctively tasting sweet-bitter spice to add wood-smoked red pepper flavours and aromas to everything from eggs to meat, and fish to vegetables.

PC Black Label Nero Di Seppia Conchiglie Pasta:
Authentically made from durum wheat semolina and natural spring water, along with an infusion of traditionally Italian cuttlefish ink and a touch of lemon, our dramatically coloured shell-shaped pasta has a lovely, delicate flavour that pairs well with sautéed seafood tossed in creamy or tomato-based sauces. Imported from Italy.

I have had a chance to try these products in various recipes and I must say that my favourite item this month has been the PC Black Label White Truffle Oil. It has such a delicate flavour that immediately I thought of making pizza bianca so that the flavours would really shine through and be enhanced with equally delicious ingredients.

And who can resist pizza? I for one, cannot. I could eat pizza everyday – for breakfast, lunch or dinner. This twist on a classic pizza is comprised with a few key ingredients such as comte cheese, thinly sliced potatoes, mushrooms, onions, and herbs. Topped with this lovely White Truffle Oil, the pizza just melts in your mouth!

I make this on fresh, no knead pizza dough which I have linked the recipe to below, but it can be made on any store bought pizza dough as well if you’re short on time. This meal is perfect for a romantic date night meal if you want to impress your loved one, or can be easy, nutritious and simple enough to make on a busy weeknight.

I hope you’ll give it a try and be sure to leave me a comment below if you make it, I would love to hear from you. You can also use my hashtag, #hautesucreon social media channels. Happy cooking!

Whether you’re a home chef or an aspiring foodie, the PC Black Label Collectionmakes it easy to unleash your culinary curiosity and get creative. Discover the entire collection and be inspired to #PlayWithYourFood at pc.ca/blacklabel. Be sure to stay tuned as I will be doing another giveaway next month!

This month’s PC Black Box included three delightful products that I had the opportunity to try. From snacks to desserts, there is such a wide array of PC Black Label products that you can serve for any occasion.

PC Black Label Artichoke Halves These sun-ripened artichokes are grilled and marinated and they’re packed in a delicous infusion of oils, garlic and spices. My husband loves artichokes and these were a delicious addition to pizza.

Blueberry Syrup

Soft Dried Apricots

PC Black Label Artichoke Halves

These sun-ripened artichokes are grilled and marinated and they’re packed in a delicious infusion of oils, garlic and spices. My husband loves artichokes and these were a delicious addition to pizza.

These sweet and plump Apricots from Turkey did not disappoint, they were eaten within minutes of opening the bag. My 7 year old son devoured them, they’re that good! Great for a cheese platter or just to snack on, these are a real treat to have around the house.

Made from carefully selected sweet blueberries, this artisan syrup is bursting with fresh berries! It’s an amazing rich syrup which makes delicious cocktails, salad dressings and our favourite breakfast or dessert toppings. One of my favourite products from this month’s PC Black Label Box, read on for my take on a holiday favourite, Swirled Blueberry Pavlovas!

I enjoyed all the products but I particularly favored the PC Black Label Blueberry Syrup for this month’s recipe selection. The first thing that popped into my mind was how well this sauce would go with my one of my favourite holiday desserts, pavlovas!

Pavlovas are a holiday favourite in our family and I hope they will become yours, too. This recipe is easy to prepare and the meringues can be baked ahead of time, up to 3 days and stored in an airtight container, layered between parchment sheets.

Whether you’re a home chef or an aspiring foodie, the PC Black Label Collection makes it easy to unleash your culinary curiosity and get creative. Discover the entire collection and be inspired to #PlayWithYourFood at pc.ca/blacklabel. Have a wonderful holiday season!

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar and cornstarch ensuring there are no lumps.

2. In a large stand mixer whisk the egg whites on medium for 1 minute until frothy.

3. Add the salt and continue to whisk on highest setting for 2 minutes.

4. With the mixer running on medium high, slowly add the sugar mixture. Once it’s all added, turn the mixture back on high and whisk for 5 minutes until the mixture is glossy and stiff peaks have formed.

5. Spoon out 6-8 mounds on the parchment sheet using 2 spoons to help release the mixture.

6. Spoon 1 tsp of blueberry sauce into each mound and using the tines of the fork, gently swirl the sauce into the meringue.

7. Using the back of a small spoon, make an indent in the centre.

8. Bake at 255°F for 1 hour and 30 minutes.

9. Turn the oven off and leave the meringues inside to cool down, up to 12 hours without opening the oven door.

Baked Meringues

Pavlova Assembly:

1 cup Whipping cream 35%

2 tblsp sugar

Fresh fruit

In a large stand mixer add the whipping cream and sugar and beat until medium peaks form.

Plate each meringue and top with the fresh whipped cream, fresh berries and drizzle with 1 Tbsp PC Black Label Blueberry Sauce over top. Garnish with fresh mint and serve immediately.

My favourite weekend brunch includes this Middle Eastern egg dish called Shakshouka. This dish is a feast for the palate with a myriad of spices simmered in a slow cooked tomato sauce with an abundance of chili’s, and topped with farm fresh eggs poached directly in the pan over this magical sauce. It’s adorned with an assortment of fresh herbs and sheep’s feta cheese.

The inspiration for this dish came from a recent dinner I have with the FeedFeed and the Vitamix team here in Toronto a few weeks ago. It was a lovely dinner with the entire meal prepared with Vitamix’s Winter Spice Seasoning. Delicious notes of cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, peppercorns and dried oranges complemented and highlighted each course. It is such a lovely spice mix that I have incorporated it into my Shakshouka recipe and can’t wait to try it next in Indian spiced chai.

This spice blend was made in my new beautiful A3500 Ascent series Vitamix machine and took less than five minutes to make! This machine is a workhorse and has been an absolute delight to use.

The features for this machine are outstanding, I’ve never had a smoothie so rich and smooth and ready in under 1 minute. My kids love it and with the pre-set program settings it’s so easy for them to use!

I hope you enjoy the recipe and when you make it, please tag me on my social channels with my hashtag, #hautesucre as I would love to see your recreations.

Winter Spiced Shakshouka Recipe

The Shakshouka sauce can be made ahead of time especially if you’re making it for a large crowd and want to prep in advance. It can be warmed up to a gentle boil, ensuring the sauce is bubbling so that the eggs set. You want the whites to be just set while the yolks are still soft and runny. There’s no other way to serve this other than with a nice chunk of bread to scoop up the sauce.

Directions:

Add the Winter Spice mix and the rest of the ground spices and cook 3 minutes, stirring to incorporate everything.

Add the crushed tomatoes, chickpeas and 1/4 cup water (if using passata, do not add additional water). Cover and cook for about 10-15 min.

Smooth mixture into base of skillet and gently crack 4-6 eggs on top. Spoon some of the tomato sauce over and around the eggs. Immediately cover and cook approx 4-5 min or until eggs are cooked through to your desired preference (runny or semi solid yolk).

With a large spatula, gently remove sauce and eggs onto plates and top with chopped herbs and serve with crusty bread or pita. Enjoy!

Buckwheat cookies are an amazing alternative for those with gluten intolerance. Made with healthy and hearty wholesome ingredients such as medjool dates, coconut, and my favourite – hazelnuts!

Hazelnuts can be substituted in this recipe, but these go nicely with the buckwheat and chocolate. These are so tasty you won’t miss a thing, my 7 year old loves them and we’ve made them many times.

I hope you’ll try them out and if you do, please share them with me using my hashtag #hautesucre, I would love to see them. Make these for your next cookie exchange or holiday brunch, they’re sure to become your new holiday favourite, get the recipe below.

Buckwheat Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies (gluten free) Recipe

Ingredients:

8 Medjool Dates

2/3 cups hazelnuts

2/3 cups maple sugar (or raw turbinado sugar)

Pinch of sea salt

Pinch of ground cinnamon

1 large free range organic egg

2 tblsp almond milk (or other dairy/non dairy liquid)

1 cup Buckwheat flour

1/3 cup coconut manna (dried coconut)

1/4 cup cacao nibs

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp ground Vanilla bean

1/2 cup dairy free chocolate chips

Topping:

1 cup dairy free chocolate Cacao nibs

Fleur de sel

Instructions:

1. In a high speed blender or food processor, pulse the hazelnuts and dates until broken down. You should still see chopped pieces of nuts – you don’t want hazelnut flour.

2. Add the remaining ingredients and pulse until the mixture comes together. Do not over process.

3. Transfer the batter to a small bowl and work it with your hands for a few minutes, ensuring it’s evenly distributed.

4. Refrigerate overnight or for at least 4 hours.

5. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

6. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

7. Remove the mixture from the refrigerator and scoop out the mixture into mid size balls.

8. Gently roll and flatten them slightly so that they bake evenly.

9. Bake for 12 minutes. Let them rest for 2 min and transfer to a rack to completely cool.

10. Melt 1 cup of chocolate into a small heatproof bowl and set aside.

11. When the cookies have cooled, dip each half cookie into the bowl of melted chocolate, shaking off the excess and laying it flat onto the parchment sheet to dry. Repeat with remaining chocolate.

12. Sprinkle the tops of the cookies with raw cacao nibs and fleur de sel. Let the chocolate harden until set.

After a nice long summer break, I’m back in the kitchen experimenting with my new October PC Black Label black box where I received two jars of condiments that can be eaten tapas style or included in a recipe.

PC Black Label Hot Cherry Peppers marinated in oil are the perfect accompaniment for pizzas, pastas, grilled meats and seafood. I was particularly fond of this as I love using a wide variety of peppers in various dishes and this one is the perfect addition to this Spicy Shrimp Scampi recipe that I’m sharing with you.

PC Black Label Borettane Onions are tasty and can be used with many dishes or served as apart of an antipasto platter. I have tried them on their own and in a quiche and they have a unique balsamic vinegar flavour that isn’t too overpowering, but very pleasant and mild.

I decided to shake up my favourite shrimp scampi recipe and added the PC Black Label Hot Cherry Peppersinto the mix, it takes the dish to a whole new level! It is simple, quick and packed with flavour, its perfect for an easy weeknight meal or for a romantic date-night dinner served with your favourite wine.

Whether you’re a home chef or an aspiring foodie, thePC Black Label Collection makes it easy to unleash your culinary curiosity and get creative. Discover the entire collection and be inspired to #PlayWithYourFood at pc.ca/blacklabel.

Granola is one of my favourite things to eat in the morning with fresh homemade yogurt or thick Greek style yogurt. I didn’t always like yogurt or granola, it all started 7 years ago when I was pregnant with my son…talk about cravings!

I was visiting my friend Penny in Chicago and quickly got addicted to a local made chocolate granola. Needless to say, I packed up a suitcase worth to take home and to eat for the duration of my pregnancy haha and she was nice enough to mail me a quick fix when I ran out.

Eventually I started making my own with a newborn in tow, in between naps and feedings. I have so many recipes 7 years later but this one is a definite favourite. I love hazelnuts and I love chocolate, so what could be better! Even my son loves it!😉

Chocolate Hazelnut Granola Recipe

Preheat oven to 350°F

Line a baking sheet lined with parchment

Ingredients

3 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup dark cocoa powder

1 tsp ground vanilla bean

1 tsp cinnamon powder

1/4 tsp kosher Salt

2 tblsp almond oil

1/2 cup maple syrup

1/8 cup water

1/2 cup hazelnuts, chopped

1/2 cup dark chocolate, chopped

Instructions:

In a large bowl combine the oats, cocoa powder, cinnamon, vanilla and salt. Mix well.

Add the almond oil, maple syrup and water. Mix until all the oats are saturated.

Place on a lined baking sheet and bake for 10 min.

Remove and add the chopped hazelnuts.

Return to the oven and bake another 10 minutes.

Turn the oven off and leave in for 5-10 minutes more.

Remove and let it cool completely.

Add the chopped chocolate and transfer the granola to a large mason or weck jar.

Crostata evokes many memories of a summer semester I spent in Bologna, Italy when I was backpacking in Europe as a university student. I spent most of my hard-earned money on eating and sightseeing and I fondly remember all the bakeries serving many variations of this infamous Italian Tart. Plums, berries, apples, grapes all made their way into these traditional crostatas bursting with homemade jams, flaky and buttery crusts liberally dusted with icing sugar.

I used to walk through the streets sightseeing and eating my crostata with icing sugar dusting my face, a happy memory! I had a sweet tooth and couldn’t resist trying all the delicacies in the dozens of pastry shops that lined the streets.

When E.D.SMITH contacted me to collaborate on their fall campaign to celebrate their 135th birthday, I was delighted as it brought back memories of baking as a child with my mum. We used to love using their pie fillings and their jams were a staple in our house.

E.D.SMITH is an iconic Canadian food brand with roots dating back to 1882 and is currently the #1 pie filling in Canada and the largest Canadian manufacturer of jams and fruit spreads.

For their fall campaign, E.D.SMITH is inspiring the newest generation of Canadian home cooks to look past traditional jam on toast and plain pies to get creative with E.D.SMITH’s products.

My mission is to inspire you to explore the versatility of their products and show you how E.D.SMITH’s pie fillings and Triple Fruits spreads can fit within your lifestyle and today’s food trends.

I love a good challenge and what better way than to recreate one of my favourite desserts, a fruit filled crostata! A traditional crostata is an open-faced fruit tart, often with a decorative lattice top and made with a homemade jam.

I particularly enjoy E.D.SMITH’s Blueberry Pie Filling and thought it would be a great swap out for a traditional blueberry jam. As we head into the fall season, I made this crostata with the addition of ground hazelnuts as it gives the crust a gently nutty bite and it complements the Blueberry Pie Filling nicely. If hazelnuts are not to your liking, they can easily be replaced with ground almonds.

The addition of nuts in the pastry dough, coupled with the yolks creates a well rounded, rich crust that pairs nicely with the pie filling making you want to savour each bite.

This Blueberry and Hazelnut Crostata is sure to become your favourite too. It’s a delicious twist on a traditional, familiar dessert with a delicate lattice topping. I hope you enjoy making it as much as I do.

Blueberry and Hazelnut Crostata Recipe

Pastry Crust Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour

1/4 cup ground hazelnuts (or almonds)

3 Tbsp. sugar

1/4 tsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp citrus zest (lemon, orange or grapefruit)

1/4 tsp ground vanilla bean (or extract)

Pinch of ground cinnamon

3/4 cup cold unsalted butter, chopped

1 large egg + 1 yolk

3/4 can of E.D.SMITH Blueberry Pie Filling

Egg wash (1 egg + 2 tsp water)

9″ Fluted round tart pan with a removal bottom

Directions:

In a stand up mixer bowl with the paddle attachment, add the flour, ground hazelnuts, sugar, salt, zest, vanilla and cinnamon. Mix on low until combined.

Add the chopped butter and egg yolk, and mix until combined. Do not overmix as you still want to see bits of butter throughout.

On a clean surface roll out 2 sheets of cling wrap and place the dough in the centre and gently form a disk. Flatten, cover in cling wrap and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350F

Roll out the pastry dough on a floured surface to approximately 14-16″ in diameter and l/2” thickness. Gently transfer it to the tart pan and press into the pan, bringing the dough up to the sides.

With a sharp knife, cut off the excess dough and reserve to make a lattice top.

Add the E.D.SMITH Blueberry Pie Filling into the base.

Roll out the excess dough and using a fluted pastry wheel cut strips to place over top the filled pastry.

In a crisscross pattern overlap the strips and crimp the edges.

*Alternate method; on a flour dusted parchment sheet you can create your lattice top pattern and chill it for 15 minutes. Gently flip it over-top the tart, sealing the edges and discarding any excess dough.

Brush with the egg wash and bake at 350°F for 40-45 minutes or until golden.

Remove and place on a baking rack to completely cool.

Remove the tart ring and dust generously with icing sugar and cut into slices. Enjoy!

*The Crostata will keep for 4-5 days in an airtight container, refrigerated.

Dark Chocolate Banana Muffins Recipe

Whether you call them muffins, cupcakes or banana bread, they’re all delicious! We had a debate as to whether or not these classified as muffins and my now 7 year old was quick to point out that there was no icing so indeed these were muffins. Ha ha! Nothing like the wisdom of a 7 year old to put it straight sometimes.

This is a quick 5 minute, one bowl recipe and you can even have your kids mix it all up together. It’s best to have all the ingredients ready if you plan to do that. You can also make this into a quick bread recipe, although the bake time will be doubled . I like them as muffins as they bake quickly and are great for quick snacks and lunch boxes.

I’ve added the pecans as an additional, optional topping but they taste good without them too as I made half a batch without. You can also replace with hazelnuts or walnuts for a different flavour.

I used Lindt dark chocolate couveture callets and left them whole as they are wonderful melted through when you take a warm bite, as you can see in the photo below.

I also added Callebaut white chocolate callets that look more like chocolate chips. I prefer this brand as it has a nice balanced sweetness that goes well with baked goods. This being said, you can use whatever you have in your pantry i.e. regular chocolate chips, but the taste of the chocolate is really amplified with couveture.

I hope you enjoy them and if you do make this recipe, please share and use my hashtag, #hautesucre on the social media channels, as I would love to see them!

Keep an eye out as I will be hosting a giveaway over the next few days…stay tuned!

Guys! I thought I’d share this quick recipe, it only takes 5 minutes! I literally made these just before heading out the door for school pick up this afternoon and they made the best after school snacks.😋
I’ll be the first to admit I have a pet peeve – leftover cereal boxes piled up drive me crazy! My son loves buying cereal but after one bowl, he’s done with it! Something about soggy cereal and milk…haha 😂

I took a mix of glutenfree cereals such as Choco Chimps by Nature’s Path Organic, Kellog’s Cocoa Rice Krispies and good ol’ Cheerios! I didn’t add any chocolate to make these but if you feel the need, you could give them a good drizzle of melted dark chocolate or add in a handful of dark chocolate chips. Enjoy!

*And don’t forget, if you make these using my recipe below, please tag them #hautesucre on your social media accounts as I would love to see them!😊

Brown Butter Chocolate Krispie Squares Recipe

Makes 16 squares

Ingredients:

1/3 cup salted butter

2.5 cups marshmallows

Pinch of fleur de sel

1/2 tsp ground vanilla bean or extract

4-5 cups of mixed chocolate cereals of your choice or *as noted above

Method:

1. In a large bowl combine the mix of cereals and set aside.

2. Line a 9×9 square pan with parchment and set aside.

3. In a heated saucepan melt the butter until just golden and set off the heat, then add the vanilla, salt and marshmallows and mix quickly leaving a few marshmallows whole.

4. Pour the mixture into the bowl of cereals and mix quickly.

5. Transfer to the lined pan, pressing the mixture down evenly with the spatula.